Hydrangea plant named ‘Haop012’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea aspera  named ‘Haop012’ that is characterized by its leaves that are chocolate brown-red on the lower surface of mature leaves, its translucent pink sterile flowers, and its purple-blue fertile flowers with purple-blue anthers.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea aspera.

Varietal denomination: ‘Haop012’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea aspera and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,‘Haop012’. ‘Haop012’ represents a new lacecap type Hydrangea, adeciduous shrub grown for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.

The new cultivar of Hydrangea arose from a breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Rijkevorsel, Belgium. ‘Hoap012’ originated as a seedlingthat arose from seed planted from open pollination of ‘Koki’ (notpatented) in 2010. ‘Hoap012’ was selected as a single unique plant inJune of 2010 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by softwood cuttings in Rijkevorsel, Belgium in June 2010.Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Haop012’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘Haop012’ exhibits leaves that are distinctively chocolate        brown-red on the lower surface.    -   2. ‘Haop012’ exhibits clear pink sterile flowers.    -   3. ‘Haop012’ exhibits purple-blue fertile flowers with        purple-blue anthers.        ‘Koki’, the female parent of ‘Haop012’, differs from ‘Haop012’        in having less conspicuous sterile flowers that are beige to        dull pink in color, a less vigorous growth rate, and in being        shorter in height. ‘Haop012’ can be most closely compared to the        cultivars ‘Kawakami’ (not patented) and ‘Mauvette’ (not        patented). ‘Kawakami’ is similar to ‘Haop012’ in having        purple-blue colored fertile flowers. ‘Kawakami’ differs from        ‘Haop012’ in having gray-green leaves on both leaf surfaces and        off-white to whitish-pink sterile flowers. ‘Mauvette’ differs        from ‘Haop012’ in having smaller, narrower, dark green leaves        and lilac colored sterile flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea, ‘Haop012’, as grownoutdoors in Rijkevorsel, Belgium. The photographs were taken of a twoyear-old plant of ‘Haop012’ as grown in a 23-cm container.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Haop012’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Haop012’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Haop012’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of‘Haop012’ as grown outdoors in 23-cm containers in Stroe, TheNetherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Approximately three weeks in June and July            in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, lacecap type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Compact mound.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 27.9 cm in height and 43.8            cm in spread.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. zone 7.        -   Diseases resistance.—No particular susceptibility or            resistance to diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderately vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—New growth; 183C, mature growth; ranging between            199A to N199B and N199C.        -   Stem size.—Average of 14.1 cm in length, average of 5 mm in            diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy, moderately to densely covered            with strigose hairs, average length of 1.5 mm and 199D in            color.        -   Internode length.—Average of 5 cm.        -   Branching.—Average of 10 lateral branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate to acute.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregularly serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 178A and lower surface            185A in color.        -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 16 cm in length and 8.6            cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; slightly glossy and slightly            rugose, lower surface; dull and moderately rugose, both            surfaces densely covered with short strigose hairs 156D in            color, an average of 0.5 mm in length on the upper surface            and 0.3 mm on the lower surface.        -   Leaf color.—Young foliage upper surface; N137B, young            foliage lower surface; a blend of 176B and 182B, mature            foliage upper surface; a blend of N137A and 147A, mature            foliage lower surface; a blend of 176B and 182B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 6 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter,            upper surface a blend of 187A and 200C and lower surface a            blend of 185A and 187C in color, both upper and lower            surfaces dull and covered with short strigose hairs an            average of 0.3 mm in length and 156D in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicle, lacecap in form            comprised of a center region of fertile flowers surrounded            by an outer ring of single sterile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent but color is            retained for about 3 weeks.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem if            pinched.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 5.6 cm in height and 10.2 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—Average of 10 sterile flowers and 500 fertile            flowers per panicle.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 3 cm in diameter            and 6 mm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 7 mm in            diameter and depth.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; average of 8 mm in length and            7 mm in diameter prior to opening, broad ovate in shape, 37B            in color fading to 38A towards the top, fertile flowers;            average of 3 mm in width and 2 mm in diameter, obovate in            shape, 85D in color.        -   Peduncles.—Moderately strong, average of 3 cm in length and            3 mm in width, average angle of 10° from vertical, 39D in            color.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; held at an average angle of 65°            from vertical, an average of 2.1 cm in length and 1 mm in            diameter, moderately weak strength, 50C in color, surface            dull and moderately covered with very short soft hairs an            average length of 0.05 mm and NN155B in color, fertile            flowers; held at an average angle of 45° from vertical, an            average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter, moderately            weak in strength, 39D in color, surface is dull and            moderately covered with very short soft hairs an average            length of 0.03 mm and NN155B in color.        -   Petals.—Fertile flowers; average of 5, rotate in            arrangement, ovate in shape, entire margin, acute apex,            cuneate base, average of 2.5 mm in length and 1 mm in width,            upper surface glabrous and dull, lower surface glabrous and            slightly glossy, color of upper surface when opening and            when fully opened 76A, lower surface when opening and when            fully opened 76A with 86D at the tip, color not fading,            sterile flowers; an average of 4, rotate arrangement but            typically not opening with fused apex, base, and margins,            open petals; acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins, ovate            in shape, an average of 1 mm in length and width, upper            surface not visible in closed flowers, lower surface;            glabrous, dull, and 76C to 76D in color.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate arrangement,            orbicular to broadly ovate in shape, an average of 1.5 cm in            length and width, obtuse to retuse apex, broadly cuneate            base, upper surface glabrous and very lightly glossy, lower            surface glabrous and dull, denticulate to crenulate margins,            color when opening upper and lower surfaces; 38C to 38D,            color when fully opened upper surface; 56C with veins 51D            fading to 56C and color when fully opened on lower surface;            51D fading to 56C, fertile flowers; 5, rotate in            arrangement, triangular in shape, entire margin, broad            acuminate apex, broad cuneate base, average of 0.5 mm in            length and 0.75 mm in width, both surfaces are glabrous and            dull, color of upper and lower surface on opening and open            flower 150D, color is not fading.-   Reproductive organs: (fertile flowers).    -   -   Stamens.—Average of 10, anther is short oblong in shape,            0.75 mm in length and N187D in color, filament is 5 mm in            length, pollen is moderate in quantity and 156D in color.        -   Pistils.—Average of 2, an average of 1.5 mm in length,            stigma is clavate shaped and 85C to 85D in color, style is            an average of 0.75 mm in length and 85C in color, ovary is            150D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—Has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Haop012’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.